Matias Schedules UNC Visit

The 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Union (N.J.) will be in Chapel Hill for the weekend of Oct. 30. The Tar Heels host William & Mary for that Saturday as part of Homecoming Weekend.

"It's a good school," Matias said of UNC. "One of my coaches went there. He said it's a great school, great place, [and] great coaches."

Matias and his coaches are in the process of scheduling an official trip with Rutgers. He also plans to officially visit Florida.

"Rutgers, they have great people, great coaches, and its right there," Matias said of the in-state campus that's a 30-minute drive from his hometown. "Florida, it's a winning team and one of my coaches knows one of their coaches and he told me he's a good guy."

Matias' plan is to take all five of his official visits during the football season and then make a verbal commitment shortly thereafter, perhaps sometime in December.

"[During my official visits] I'm particularly going to be looking at the campus, because I'm going to have to live there for four years," Matias said. "I don't want to go somewhere and be thinking about my home. I want to be able to focus on college."

Location will also play a factor, Matias said. His feelings during his official visits will determine how much of a factor it will be.

Union assistant coach Ravon Anderson was a Top 100 national recruit in the Class of 1997 that signed with UNC and finished his college career at Rutgers. While at UNC, Anderson was teammates with Allen Mogridge, who now coaches tight ends for the Tar Heels.

Mogridge, as well as Sam Pittman, UNC's offensive line coach, speak weekly with Matias.

"They just talk to me about how much they need me and how I could make a big impact when I show up in college," Matias said. "And they said I could really help their team a lot."

UNC has secured verbal commitments from four offensive line prospects. According to Matias, the Tar Heels coaching staff aims to add one more to its class.

"They said they're just waiting for me," Matias said with a laugh.

Matias has started at offensive tackle for Union since his sophomore year. However, he's been stuck watching his senior season from the sideline after suffering a knee injury during the preseason.

"Sometimes it's hard, because I know I could make those blocks for my teammates," Matias said. "I talk to [my teammates] but they don't listen. It makes me want to go crazy. It's really hard just watching from the sideline."